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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

ImportantIt is possible that the main title of the report Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Polyglucosan Bodies

Aran-Duchenne Muscular Atrophy

Gehrig's Disease

Lou Gehrig's Disease

Motor System Disease (Focal and Slow)

Disorder Subdivisions

Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Type ALS

Juvenile Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Included

Progressive Bulbar Palsy, Included

Benign Focal Amyotrophy of ALS

Upper Motor Neuron Disease

Werdnig-Hoffman Disease

Wohlfart-Disease

Primary Lateral Sclerosis

Infantile Spinal Muscular Atrophy, ALS

Kugelberg-Welander Disease

General Discussion

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of a group of disorders known as motor neuron diseases. It is characterized by the progressive degeneration and eventual death of nerve cells (motor neurons) in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord that facilitate communication between the nervous system and voluntary muscles of the body. Ordinarily, motor neurons in the brain (upper motor neurons) sent messages to motor neurons in the spinal cord (lower motor neurons) and then to various muscles. ALS affects both the upper and lower motor neurons, so that the transmission of messages is interrupted, and muscles gradually weaken and waste away. As a result, the ability to initiate and control voluntary movement is lost. Ultimately, ALS leads to respiratory failure because affected individuals lose the ability to control muscles in the chest and diaphragm. ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease.

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

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